To be named ENSCO 8506, the rig's total project cost is currently projected to be $560 million. Delivery is expected in the second half of 2012. The contract follows shortly after the award of the sixth semi, ENSCO 8505, announced on June 1, 2008.

ENSCO 8506 will be part of the company's eight-rig deepwater fleet that includes the ENSCO 7500 deepwater semisubmersible that has been in service since 2000. The first four of the ENSCO 8500 Series rigs to be delivered are contracted to customers for term work commencing upon delivery, and marketing of the three latest ENSCO 8500 Series rigs already is underway.

The first of the seven 8500 Series semis was contracted at Keppel FELS in 2005 and is on track for shipyard delivery in the third quarter of this year. It has been chartered to Anadarko and Eni for operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

The ENSCO 8500 Series semisubmersibles are based upon an ENSCO proprietary design. Features include a two million pound quad derrick, offline pipe handling capability, automatic station keeping ability to DP2, and 150-man living quarters. The 8500 Series rigs will be capable of drilling in up to 8,500 feet of water. With these capabilities and features, the rigs will be especially well-suited for deepwater development drilling.

Daniel W. Rabun, ENSCO's Chairman, President and CEO, commented: "We continue to execute on our strategy to expand our deepwater presence, and again look forward to working with Keppel FELS on this important project. Our $3.1 billion investment in the ENSCO 8500 Series) rigs demonstrates our commitment to playing a meaningful role in the growing deepwater market. With our current seven rig newbuild program, no other company will have a larger ultra-deepwater semisubmersible rig fleet."

Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS) has won the contract to build the seventh ENSCO 8500 Series¨ deepwater semisubmersible (semi) worth US$560 million. This sum includes equipment specified by the owner.

Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman and CEO of Keppel O&M said, "This contract to build the seventh semi for ENSCO is a vote of confidence from a top-notch drilling contractor for our reliability as a partner of choice. We remain committed to giving ENSCO our full support and contributing to the growth of their high quality deepwater fleet."